Research Highlights from the Division of Intramural Research: November 2023 Showcase

DIR provides fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems through basic, clinical, and population-based research. Scroll through the following slideshow to learn about select scientific advances from each affinity group.

A pregnant woman stands next to a large window and looks down while holding her belly.

Preventing Preterm Birth and Adverse Outcomes in Newborns

Preterm birth is a leading cause of infant death and long-term disability in the United States, and effective treatments to prevent preterm birth are needed.

Read about work from the Pregnancy Research Branch on blocking interleukin 6 receptor in a mouse model of preterm birth.

In the top half of the figure, a lysosome represented as a circle is tethered to a large circle (labeled MVE) filled with smaller circles (labeled ILVs) by colored shapes labeled BORC, ARL8, HOPS, RAB7, and RAB2. To the right, additional circles represent some ILVs being released from MVEs as exosomes, while ILVs within the lysosome-MVE hybrid are degraded. The bottom half of the figure shows that without tethering of lysosomes to MVEs, all ILVs are released as exosomes.

Enhancing Exosome Secretion from Cells

Exosomes—small sacs of biomolecules released from cells—offer potential as disease biomarkers and treatments. One limitation to their therapeutic use is the low yields of exosomes that can be obtained from cultured cells under standard conditions.

Read about work from the Bonifacino Lab to understand exosome secretion that also suggests a strategy to boost exosome yields.

A pregnant woman stands in the aisle of a store examining a package of detergent.

Evaluating the Effect of “Forever Chemicals” on Uterine Fibroids

Many factors may influence changes in uterine fibroids during pregnancy, including exposure to chemicals that can disrupt hormonal signaling.

Read about work from the Epidemiology Branch to understand links between exposure to long-lasting chemicals called PFAS and fibroid growth during pregnancy.

The strand is three-dimensional and purple against a blurred background that is dotted blue and purple.

Exploring the Balance between the Production and Decay of Messenger RNA

Messenger RNA encodes the instructions for cells to make proteins. At any given time in a cell, there is a balance between the creation of these instructions and their destruction to tune gene expression.

Read about work from the Hinnebusch Lab on how a factor called Dcp2 regulates this balance.

Several purple bacteria are shown and depicted as long spirals with smaller dots clustered inside.

Uncovering Genetic Regulators in Disease-causing Bacteria

Lyme disease, the most common vector-borne disease in the United States, occurs when a person is bitten by a blacklegged tick (or deer tick) infected with Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacterial pathogen.

Read about work from the Adams Group to identify new regulators in Lyme disease pathogen.

A cut orange DNA strand, with the sites of the cuts highlighted with white circles against a dark purple background with icons of machine gears. A short pink DNA strand floats above the missing DNA sequence.

Exploring Gene Editing to Treat a Rare Disease

Although gene augmentation therapy is a promising treatment for the rare inherited disorder glycogen storage disease type-Ia (GSD-Ia), it might not be useful for growing children, and its effects might not last a lifetime.

Read about work from the Chou Lab to develop a gene editing strategy to permanently correct the genetic variation that causes GSD-Ia.

DNA sequencing is visualized as rows of rectangles in shades of purple, orange, and gold along the entire background. On the right side, a DNA strand runs vertical.

Identifying Genetic Causes of Rare Vascular Conditions

Blood vessels are responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the body. Malformations in blood vessels can lead to a variety of health problems.

Read about work from the Sheppard Lab on using genetic sequencing to diagnose these rare conditions.

Top panel labeled “0 day” shows an intestinal cross-section and a blow up of a small segment with a brown cell indicated by an arrow. Middle panel labeled “3 day” shows an intestinal cross-section with lots of brown staining and a blow up of a small segment with 5 brown cells indicated by arrows. Bottom panel labeled “6 day” shows an intestinal cross-section with lots of green staining and a blow up of a small segment with numerous green cells.

Understanding How Thyroid Hormone Influences Intestinal Development

Studying the process of metamorphosis from tadpole to frog can help scientists gain insights into how thyroid hormone regulates adult organ development in mammals.

Read about work from the Shi Lab and others to understand how thyroid hormone contributes to the development of adult intestines.

Bacteria shown as oblong red rods are surrounded by beige bacteriophages comprising a polyhedral head and a tail against a black background.

Defining the Role of Bacterial Genes-Within-Genes

Genes-within-genes that produce a smaller version of a complete, full-length protein can serve important functions within a cell.

Read about work from the Storz Lab that reveals how a gene-within-a-gene helps defend bacteria against viruses called phages.

A back view of a group of children in a classroom who all have their hands raised while looking at a bespectacled teacher, who is standing at the front of the class.

Identifying Early Childhood Risks for Suicide

Vulnerability to suicide may be linked to a variety of early childhood factors. Identifying these risk factors can help us better understand how vulnerability to suicide emerges and help inform programs to prevent suicide.

Read about work from the Social and Behavioral Sciences Branch on links between children’s cognitive performance and suicide risk in adulthood.

Three strands of DNA run horizontal, and each strand has three or four histones. In some sections, DNA is wrapped several times around a histone, whereas some histones are not wrapped at all.

Understanding How Genes are Silenced During Development

During embryonic development, some genes must be silenced or “inactivated” at certain times and places. This silencing is orchestrated by Polycomb group proteins (PcG), which must be recruited to the gene in question.

Read about work from the Kassis Lab on how PcG recruitment is regulated.

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